Nursing bottle and nipple



April 23, 1935.

I H. A. YAGER NURSING BOTTLE AND NIPPLE Filed July 31, 1934 Ham/d A; jay efl Patented Apr. 2 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NunsmG BOTTLE AND NIPPLE Washington Application July 31, 1934, Serial No. 733.729 6 Claims. (01. 215-11 My invention relates to nursing bottles and nipples and certain objects of the invention are to provide a nursing bottle and nipple that is sanitary throughout and which comprises novel means whereby an even flow of liquid is. ensured and collapsing of the nipple is prevented, and novel means for connecting the nipple to the bottle and whereby the nipplermay be readily'installed and removed. a

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the complete device; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view incentral vertical section showing the nipple installed on the upper portion of a nursing bottle; Fig. 3 is a detail view inperspective showing an upper fragmentary portion of the bottle; Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective showing a fragmentary portion of the metal retaining ring; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section showing the air entry means.

Referring in detail to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates a nursing bottle having aspacious neck 6 terminating in an open mouth I. An air inlet 8 consists of a curved-openingpro vided in. the top edge of the mouth, and a V- shaped depression 9 extends a short way down from said opening on the outside of the neck. Below said opening the lower outside portion of the neck is provided with four spaced apart projecting flanges Hlthat are correspondingly slanted from the horizontal and provided on their under end edge portions with stops II as most clearly shown in-Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The nipple is made of flexible rubber and comprises the usual perforated mouthpiece l2 and dome portion l3. An annular shoulder 14 extends outwardly and around the lower portion of the dome, and a depending flange I5 is formed around its outer edge. The dome portion is extended below the shoulder to provide an'annular flap or flange l6 whose inner surface is tapered or slanted to provide a. thin or sharp" edge I1, and the outer surface, of said flap or flange may be slanted outwardly from the shoulder to a slight extent. When the nipple is installed on the bot tle, its shoulder I4 seats on the top edge of the bottle mouth 1, its depending-flange I5 extends snugly around the outer edge of said mouth, and

the flap or flange l6 extends. down into the neck 6 and presses outwardly againstits inner surface thus normally sealing the bottle against entry of air or escape of milk.

For the purpose of securing the nipple in the 5 installed position. on the bottle, I have provided a retaining ring that is preferably made of German silver. Saidring comprises an outer annular wall [8 having a flange l9 extending inwardly and slanting downwardly from the top edge of said wall to engagement with the ,dome I3 when same is installed. The bottom edge of the ring has a bead 20 formed thereon by bending said edge portion back upon itself thus providing a double thickness for four spaced apart shoulders 15 2| that are formed by pressing portions of said--. bead inwardly. Upon installing the retaining ring, said shoulders pass down between the projecting flanges ID on the neck of the bottle, and when the ring is turned they engage the lower edge of said projecting flanges. These projecting flanges, being slanted, draw the ring downwardly when it is turned to the position wherein the shoulders 2| contact with the stops II on the bottom of the projecting flanges l0.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, when the retaining ring is drawn downwardly in its installation, the inner edge of 'its slanting flange l9 presses downwardly against the annular rubber shoulder 14 of the rubber nipple at a point '30 where it joins the dome l3, which point is inside of an extended circle of the bottle mouth I. The mouth thus acts 'as a fulcrum for the leverage caused by the downward pressure of the flange l9 which leverage results in forcing the lower edge ll of the flap l6 outwardly and causing it to make a close contact all around with the inner surface of the bottle neck 6, thus normally preventing outward leakage or air entry.

When the device is completely installed, a 40 space 22 is left between the outside of the bottle neck Ii and the inside of the outer retaining ring wall [8, and this space serves as a passage for outside air asindicated by direction arrows in Fig. 5. Now, when the liquid contents of the bottle is removed by suction through the perforated mouthpiece l2, this suction and removal of the liquidltends to create a. partial vacuum within the bottle. No vacuum, however, is formed within the bottle for the reason that the pressure of the outside air forces the rubber flap l8 inwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. 5, I and the air rushes in to take the place of the liquid which is removed. This air entryaction is entirely dependent upon the removal of the liquid and ceases therewith thus immediately reverting the device back to' its normal function of excluding air and preventing leakage.

The foregoing described action prevents collapsing of the nipple and ensures an even flow of the liquid. It furthermore eliminates the cause of air being drawn into the-baby's stomach and resulting in wind colic. The herein described device is completely sanitary, there being no crevices, and both the ring and*nipple may be readily removed for cleansing and sterilization.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. A nursing bottle and nipple comprising a bottle having a spacious neck with slanting flanges on its outside, an air inlet extending across the top edge of the neck and downwardly from the top edge on the outside of the neck, a flexible nipple comprising a perforated mouthpiece and an enlarged dome portion that is smaller than the neck, an outstanding annular shoulder extending radially from the dome and having a depending flange formed around its outer margin an annular depending flap formed by extending the dome below the shoulder and having a thin lower edge, said shoulder, seated upon the top edge of the neck with its depending flange embracing the said top edge, said flap ex-' tending down into the neck with its thin edge contacting'the inner surface of the neck, a retaining ring comprising'an. annular wall having a flange extending inwardly and slanting 'downwardly from its top edge and seated upon the annular shoulder of the nipple with, its inner edge engaging the nipple dome, a plurality of shoulders formed on the lower and inner edge portion of the ring and arranged to engage the lower edges of the slanting flanges formed on the bottle neck whereby theslanting top flange of the ring depresses ,the nipple and causes the lowen thin edge of its flap to expand against the inner surface of the neck when the ring is turned to bring its shoulders into .slidable engagement with the lower edges of the slanting flanges formed on the neck, and said retaining ring having a space formed between its annular wall and. the neck of the bottle and communicating with the air inlet.

2. A nursing bottle and nipple comprising a bottle having a spacious neck with an air inlet provided in the top edge thereof, a flexible nip-. ple having an annular shoulder seated upon the top edge of the neck and projecting radially inward therefrom, said nipple having a flexible depending annular flap extending downwardly into the neck with its lower portion normally,

bearing against walls ofthe neck to seal the air inlet, a retaining ring surrounding the neck and having an inwardly extending top flange seated upon the annular shoulder of the nipple, the inner edge oi! the top flangebeing of. smaller diameter than that of the interior or the neck whereby the flange overlies the inwardly projecting portion of the flange, said ring and neck having a space therebetween communicatingwith the air inlet, and securing means for drawing the retaining ring downwardly upon the neck to depress the nipple and force its shoulder into tight contact with the upper edge of the neck and its depending annular flap against the interior surface of the neck.

3. A nursing bottle and nipple comprising a bottle having an air inlet in its top edge, a flexible nipple having an annular shoulder seated upon the top edge of the bottleand aflexible annular flap extending into the bottle beyond the air inlet and bearing against walls of the bottle, the flap being adapted to be flexed away from the walls of the bottle when a partial vacuum is formed in the bottle and allow entrance of air to break the'vacuum, and a retaining ring having a flange, said ring being threaded upon the bottle with its flange overlying the shoulder of the nipple to compress the shoulder against the top edge of the bottle and cause the annular flap to be expanded against the inside or the bottle to normally seal the air inlet when the securing means is fastened.

4. 'A nursing bottle and nipple comprising '5- bottle having an air inlet in its top edge, a flexible nipple having an outstanding annular shoulder seated upon the top edge of the bottle and a flexible depending annular flap about the inner margin of the shoulder extending into the bottle beyond the air inlet and normally contacting with the walls of the bottle to seal the inlet, said flap being movable away from walls of the bottle when a partial vacuum is formed in the bottle to permit air to enter the bottle and break the vacuum,. and means to detachably secure the nipple to the bottle.

. 5. A nursing bottle and nipple comprising a bottle having an air inlet in its upper. edge portion, and a nipple detachably connected with'said bottle and having a flexible annular flap extending into the bottle beyond the air inlet and normally contactingwith the walls .01 the "bottle.

to seal the air inlet, said flap being adapted to be flexedinwardlyaway from the walls of the bottle when a partial vacuum is formed in the bottle and permit air to enter the bottle.

6. A nursing'bottle and nipple comprising a bottle having a spacious neck, and a flexible nipple, having an outstanding annular flange seated against the upper edge of the neck, means being provided for admitting air into the'bottle when the nipple is in place, an annular depending flexible flap about the inner marginal portion of the flange extending into the bottle and normally contacting with walls of the bottle to prevent passage of air into the bottle beyond the lower edge 01 the flap, said flap being adapted to be flexed inwardly away from the walls of the bottle when a partial vacuum is formed in the bottle and permit air to enter the bottle to break the vacuum.-

HAROLD ALAN YAGER. 

